Flashlight switch



June 15, 1948. w. R. KoPP 2,443,539

FLASHLIGHT SWITCH Filed Oct. 8, 1946 INVENTOR 3 A ER R. K am:

@ 21. Madam #3 m ATTORNEYS Patented June 15. 1948 UNITED STATE S PATENT OFFICE Olin Industries, Inc., New Haven,

poration of Delaware Conn., a cor- Applicatlon October 8, 1946, Serial No. 702,023

This invention relates to hand lamps and more Claims. (Cl. 20060) particularly to an improved switch for miniature I hand lamps, generally known as pen lamps.

The miniature hand lamp is generally provided with a switch mounted in the base or end cap. In the present invention I provide a switch by means of which the lamp may be placed in a steady on position or which may be employed to make flashin contact which will be maintained only as long as pressure is exerted on the switch member.

In providing a simple construction for accomplishing these ends, I employ an end cap having two or more indentations. A switch plate is carried by a disc of insulating material having a tubular or rodlike portion projecting through an opening in the end cap. The usual spring is mounted on the switch plate and contacts with the bottom of the lower cell of the battery. At spaced points corresponding to the indentations of the end cap, the switch plate is provided with axially extending fingers.

In the o position these fingers are spaced from the end cap and the electric circuit is therefore broken. By moving the switch assembly inwardly against the pressure of the spring, turning it to bring the fingers into alignment with the indentations and permitting the spring to then move the switch assembly outwardly, the lamp is placed in the on position. One dimension of the switch plate is equal to the diameter of the casing. Therefore, by holding the switch plate in its innermost position against the compression of the spring, the circuit is closed for flashing contact and will be released as soon as the pressure is relieved and the spring exerts its force.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a miniature hand lamp showing the invention applied, parts being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is an exploded, sectional view of the parts of the switch assembly;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the end cap;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal, sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan or face view of the insulating member of the switch assembly;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof at a right angle to Fig, 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan or face view of the switch plate;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the base of the hand lamp casing showing the switch in the oil position.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral l' designates generally a casing of a miniature hand lamp which is preferably circular in cross section and of a length to receive two dry cells, one of which is shown at 2. A glass head or reflector 3 is arranged on the upper end of the flashlight casing and a lamp bulb (not shown) is arranged in the end of the casing and projects into the reflector 3. As in the conventional construction, the upper cell of the battery has its central contact carried by the carbon electrode in contact with the base terminal of the lamp. The lower cell 2 has its central contact in contact with the bottom of the zinc can arranging the cells in series so that a connection through the casing to the outer terminal of the lamp bulbcompletes a circuit. A clip 4 may be arranged on the casing, if desired.

The switch construction forming the subject matter of the present invention is mounted in an end cap 5. This end cap is internally threaded as at 6 and engages threads 1 formed on the base or lower end of the casing. If desired, the end of the casing may be reduced in cross section forming a. shoulder 8 so that the end cap when in position is substantially flush with the surface of the body of the casing to produce a streamlined appearance. The end cap is Drovided with a plurality of spaced indentations 9 forming a part of the switch structure. In the drawing I have illustrated the provision of two such indentations diametrically opposite to each other. The base of the end cap is also provided with an opening through which a portion of the switch assembly projects.

The switch assembly comprises a plate or disc H of insulating material having a rod-like or tubular stem l'2 projecting therefrom. To permit assembly of the parts, the stem is provided with an opening l3 and an opening [4 of slightly reduced cross section extends through the plate or disc l I. A switch plate 15 is secured to the plate H. As shown, the switch plate is provided with a central boss l5 which is received in an counterbore in the insulating memher to center the switch plate andthe insulating member. The switch plate is held to the insulating plate by means of a rivet l6 and the usual coil spring I! which engages the bottom of the lower cell is also held in place by this rivet. As shown in Fig. 1, the switch plate I5 is assembled on the insulating plate II and the switch plate is provided with a central opening l8 for the passage of the rivet. The end 19 of the spring is arranged on the plate and these parts clamped together by the head 20 of the rivet. The rivet is passed through the openings of the switch plate in the direction where it is not fabricated to form the fingers 23. that is, in a vertical direction in Fig. 7 of the drawing, is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the bottom of the end cap, and less than the diameter of the insulating plate or disc H (see Fig. 9). The operation of the switch is as follows:

In Fig. 1 the switch is shown in the steady on position with the ends oi the fingers 23 in engagement with end cap. In this position the notches 22 and the shorter axis of the plate l5 are in alignment with projections 9 and the switch assembly is moved outwardly by spring I! to insure contact between fingers 23 and the end cap. A circuit is thus completed from the bottom of the lower cell 2 of the battery through the spring i'l, switch plate It, fingers 23, end cap 5, casing I to the outer terminal (not shown) of the lamp bulb. If the casing is made of a non-conductive material, a connecting strip (not shown) of the conventional type may extend from the bottom of the casing to the top to complete the electric circuit. The switch assembly in the position shown in Fig. l is being urged outwardly by the spring I! insuring contact between the fingers 23 and the end cap. To open the circuit, the projecting end of the stem i2 is moved inwardly a suificient distance to disengage the fingers from the end cap, then turned slightly and the pressure released whereupon the spring urges the switch assembly outwardly. However, notches 22 are then out of alignment with projections 9 and the stem side of plate I l is engaged by the projections (see Fig. 9) to limit the outward movement and keep the fingers out of contact with the end cap. The outer end of the stem may be knurled as at 25 and the knurling may be interrupted as at 26 at points in alignment with the notches 22. This will enable the user of the lamp to tell when the notches are in alignment with the indentations 9, as the smooth portions 26 of the stem will align with the indentations when the notches are in alignment with them. If aflashing light is desired, the switch assembly is moved inwardly to the point where the switch plate is against the lower end of the casing and, as stated, one dimension of the switch plate is suiiicient to bridge across the bottom of the casing and close the circuit. This connection will, of course, be maintained only while pressure is exerted on the stem i2 and as soon as the pressure is released, the spring moves the switch assembly outwardly to break the circuit.

It will be apparent that the construction above described provides a very simple switch construction for pen lamps or other types of hand lamps by means of which either a steady the end cap, a switch plate on the disc, the switch plate being provided with axially extending fingers an operating member connected to the disc and extending from the end cap to permit rot-ation of the disc and switch to bring the fingers into and out of alignment with the indentations on the end cap, and a spring secured to the switch plate andadapted to engage the lower cell of a battery in the casing.

2. In a. hand lamp, a, casing, an end cap on the casing, the end cap being provided with spaced indentations and having an opening in the end, a switch assembly comprising a disc slightly smaller than the end cap. a stem projecting from the disc through the opening in the end cap, 8.

switch plate on the disc, the switch plate being provided with axially extending fingers the disc being rotatable to bring the fingers into or out of alignment with the indentations on the end cap, and a spring secured to the switch plate and adapted to engage the lower cell 0! a battery light may be obtained or intermittent flashing light may be obtained by moving the switch assembly inwardly and outwardly.

I claim:

1. In a hand lamp, a casing, an end cap on the casing, the end cap having spaced inwardly extending portions, a switch assembly comprising a disc formed of insulating material mounted in in the casing.

3. In a hand lamp, a, casing, an end cap on the casing, the end cap being provided with spaced indentations and having an opening in the end, a switch assembly comprising a disc slightly smaller than the end cap, the disc being provided with notches corresponding to the indentations in the wall of the end cap, a. stem projecting from the disc through the opening in the end cap, a switch plate mounted onthe disc, the switch plate being provided with axially extending fingers passing through the notches in the disc, and a spring secured to the switch plate and adapted to engage the lower cell of a battery in the casing.

4. In a hand lamp, a casing, an end cap on the casing, the end cap being provided with spaced indentations and having an opening in the end, a switch assembly comprising a disc slightly smaller than the end, the disc being provided with notches corresponding to the indentations in the wall of the end cap, a stem projecting from the disc through the opening in the end cap, a switch plate mounted on the disc, the switch plate being provided with axially extending fingers passing through the notches in the disc, and a spring secured to the switch plate and adapted to engage the lower cell of a battery in the casing, one dimension of the switch plate being substantially equal to the diameter 01 the end of the casing.

5. In a hand lamp, a casing, an end cap on the casing, the end cap being provided with spaced indentations and having an opening in the end, a switch assembly comprising a disc slightly smaller than the end cap, a stem projecting from the disc through the opening in the end cap, a switch plate on the disc, the switch plate being provided with axially extending fingers, a spring secured to the switch plate and adapted to engage the lower cell of a battery in the casing, and means on the stem to indicate when the indentations and fingers are in alignment.

WALTER R. KOPP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

